The Ducks' Dustin Penner can't get a shot off in front of Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the third period Monday. GENE J. PUSKAR, AP

PITTSBURGH – Goals were flowing consistently for the Ducks like water from a faucet, but the spigot has suddenly been difficult to pry open.

In racing to a 15-3-1 record that had them atop the NHL standings, the Ducks scored four or more goals eight times and were held to two or fewer five times.

They have been held to one or two during a four-game winless stretch on a trip that began in Florida and ended Monday night with a 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Consol Energy Center.

The difference Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau is seeing immediately rolled off his tongue. There have been goals by the big line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Dustin Penner and … and …

“I’m not seeing any secondary scoring from anybody,” Boudreau said. “What made us successful the first 19 games was that we had four lines going and we could match with anybody. And the third and fourth lines would usually score some goals if the first two lines were even.

“Now you look at it and you’ve got Getzlaf and Perry and Penner knocked the odd goal in. Nobody else contributed. When you don’t have four lines contributing scoring, it’s tough to win.”

Andrew Cogliano had a four-game goal-scoring streak that was a career best, but the Ducks got scores only from Emerson Etem and Hampus Lindholm outside of their power trio.

Some of the scoring from younger forwards has tailed off of late. Etem’s goal Thursday at Tampa Bay is his only one in eight games. Nick Bonino has one goal in 14 and Kyle Palmieri has one in nine. Patrick Maroon has gone his past 10 without one.

All of them are going through their first 82-game season as regular or semiregular players.

“The league is a good league,” Boudreau said. “You come in as good of shape as you want and get an advantage early, but you better continue to get better or the league will catch up to you.”

LOVEJOY HOMECOMING

It isn’t often that defenseman Ben Lovejoy has a media scrum around him, but he held court as this stop was different than most.

Lovejoy was playing his first game back in Pittsburgh, where he spent five years with the Penguins organization and played in 98 games with the parent club. The Ducks gave him the break he needed to become an everyday player but there is still a soft spot for his former team.

“It is a little weird,” he said. “I’m happy that I’m not in the division and don’t have to do this two or three times a year. I’ve kept in very good touch with a lot of people both on the team, in the organization and from the city.”

Lovejoy’s outgoing personality made him a fan favorite of sorts and his appearance on HBO’s “24/7” series that showed him with a badly swollen cheek after being hit by a puck during a game made him all the more endearing to the Pittsburgh fan base.

“I think people appreciate a hockey player with something to say,” he said. “I’ve tried to be positive. I think this city respects guys that come in and work hard every day. That’s the Pittsburgh mentality.”

KOIVU NEARS RETURN

Saku Koivu did not play but skated in the morning and could be available Wednesday against New Jersey. Koivu has missed the past 11 games because of a head injury.

The Ducks sent center Rickard Rakell to Norfolk (Va.) of the AHL in preparation for Koivu’s return. Boudreau also wants to get Rakell’s confidence back because he was also one of those whose play “had leveled off.”

Boudreau said he felt Rakell had jumped Peter Holland in the organization’s pecking order, which was one reason the Ducks dealt Holland to Toronto over the weekend.

“We had Peter up here numerous times during the course of the year,” Boudreau said. “(We) got two draft choices out of it and a young prospect. I think it was a good move for both teams.”

Meanwhile, Matt Beleskey played in his first game since Oct. 5 after being sidelined because of a broken left thumb.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.